Andy Holding's Thursday Racing Tips

PORT OR STARBOARD (best price 10-3) may have a look of a chancy proposition to some having finished runner-up on all three of hurdles starts so far to date, but when you consider he’s chased home the likes of Lebowski, Dalamoi and Fine Casting, enough slack can be afforded in his direction to grant him another opportunity to finally get his head in front. 

A seven-race maiden on the Flat, the son of Epaulette did run some of his best races in defeat with plenty of give underfoot and his preference for an easy surface has most definitely been translated to his new vocation. Just finding the smart Lebowski too good on his hurdles debut at Ffos Las, he did have the likes of subsequent winners Transfer Friendly and Mister Watson in behind him that day and the form of his next two similar performances also have a solid look in the context of today’s race. Indeed, each of his three outings have all been good on the overall speed figures and final lap sectionals respectively and with heavy ground likely to bother less than most, Bernard Llewellyn’s gelding makes plenty of appeal. Extraordinary Man is the other who arrives here on the back of a smart speed figure at Huntingdon, the only note caution with him would be that performance took part of good ground. 

Very little strength in depth in this maiden hurdle and its one well within the capabilities of BALLYBEEN (NAP) (best price 15-8) based on what he’s achieved so far to date. 

Shaping as though he needed the run on his first run under rules over today’s course back in November, Sam Thomas’ gelding was sent to try his hand in an even more competitive race at Exeter last time out and although he failed to improve on his fifth position previously, the speed figure suggested his game went up a notch or two. Despite never really threatening to win at the West Country venue, he kept on well in the latter stages after moving well throughout and if you take the first two out of the equation, he was in among the sort of opposition he faces here this afternoon. Having already proven he handles today’s track and two miles on testing surface, the son of Presenting is one of the few complete box-tickers in the field.

MAHON POINT (best price 15-8) put in a seriously big effort on his rules debut in a bumper over today’s course last time out and providing he can translate the ability he showed that day over to his new discipline, Fergal O’Brien’s gelding is going to be very difficult to beat.

A winning pointer for Francesca Nimmo back in May, the son of Kayf Tara was snapped up by new connections soon after for 22k in the Goffs Spring Sale and on the evidence of his display 33 days ago, that appears money well spent. Held up in a race that was very steadily run at the Welsh track, the seven-year-old was still upwards of 25 lengths off the pace as the field turned for home, so to finish as close as he did at the death is testimony to his talent. Based on small sample of knowledge we’ve acquired about him, he seems in need of a stiffer test than two miles, so with today’s step up in trip on heavy ground likely to provide him with a suitable examination, this strapping chasing type can provide another winner for his in-form handler.